Royal Victorian Medal
| Royal Victorian Medal | |
|---|---|
 
Medal and ribbon
|
|
| Type | medal |
| Eligibility | British and Commonwealth citizens and non-commissioned personnel |
| Awarded for | Personal service to the Sovereign or royal family |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Post-nominals | RVM |
| Statistics | |
| Established | April 1896 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Dependent on realm |
| Next (lower) | Dependent on realm |
The Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) is a decoration established by Queen Victoria in April 1896. On 14 May 1912, King George V further confirmed the institution of the medal with an additional royal warrant. A part of the Royal Victorian Order, it is a reward for personal service to the Sovereign or the royal family, and is the personal gift of the sovereign. Although the Medal is related to the Royal Victorian Order, it differs in appearance and in the way it is worn.
The medal has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold (silver gilt). Bars may be awarded to each level of Medal to denote subsequent awards. Recipients may continue to wear their original medal if they are awarded a higher level for further service. The medal may also be worn in addition to the badge of the Royal Victorian Order if this is later given to them.
Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters RVM.
In creating the Royal Victorian Order in 1896, Queen Victoria decided to make a medal a part of the order as well. This medal would be used to reward those who had rendered faithful service to the monarch and the royal family, but were not eligible to be appointed to any orders due to their position or class. This creation followed the precedent of other European monarchs who had royal household medals with which to reward servants. The first medals were received 7 July 1896 and were presented to Russians by the Duke of Connaught while he was in Russia for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II.
The medal has been historically used to recognise the service of police officers who work in protective services, gardeners, housekeepers, drivers, valets and other similar type staff. Non-commissioned members of the military may also be awarded the medal for services. The medal is often awarded for service to the monarch and royal family during royal visits. The medal may be looked upon as a long service medal, but the service must be of a meritorious character to warrant its award.
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